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Libraries have become a broadband lifeline for students
- 27182818284 10y agoIf you haven't been near your public library's internet area for a while, you should go--it is an eye opener to see not only that they are full to capacity, but also that there is often a wait list involved.
- wjossey 10y agoI was in Boston last week on business, and I took a meeting at the Boston Public Library downtown in Copley. I had the exact same thought walking through that area on a Saturday morning. It was packed (although not quite to capacity). I casually observed what was on screens, and it was everything from Facebook, to games, to Wikipedia.
- nck4222 10y agoI suppose I haven't been to many large main branch libraries, but the BPL main branch is amazing to me. The building itself is incredible but the services they provide are top notch. It hosts great scheduled talks/discussions (for instance on Tuesday Neil Gaiman will be there for an on-stage interview). The quiet workspaces are great places to get work done, and something about the architecture/interior/history really helps keep one motivated while there. Maybe this is normal for every state but any resident of MA is eligible to get a library card. It's worth it for the digital rentals alone. They also host free tours of the building, which I haven't done yet but have been meaning to.
- AznHisoka 10y agoUsed to remember when my public library would kick you out if you did anything that wasn't research-related. Now I see people playing Minecraft and browsing FB on library computers...
- dredmorbius 10y agoSo long as we're showering love on libraries, the Boston Public Library was the first municipal public library in the United States, established in 1848. http://www.bpl.org/general/history.htm http://www.bpl.org/general/history.htm On a vaguely related note, in looking up information on production and copyright of books within the US a few months back, I dug through the history of the Library of Congress, and specifically the Librarian's annual report to Congress on the state and status of the library, dating to about 1860. It's quite the trip. The Library, Internet Archive, and Hathi Trust have most of the reports, in scanned PDFs. (Flying my library freak flag....)
- germinalphrase 10y agoMy local library is the same. Absolutely packed in the afternoon/evening until close. Lots of teenagers. Many just doing fun internet stuff (games, social media, etc.) - but also getting pulled aside for homework help and tutoring. Pretty awesome community space.
- deleted 10y ago[deleted]
- baby 10y agoOn the other hand, just moved to London. Went to two libraries: * one had a really bad internet you would activate by asking for a coupon, it would then be limited to 500MB * the other one had no internet if you did not have a library card For someone who spends a lot of time in libraries to work, I found it really sad :(
- stinkytaco 10y agoLondon England, I assume, not Ontario? European libraries are really nothing like American ones, at least the few I've been to. They are still very much in the "books and only books" mindset that American libraries were at 50 years ago. It's funny, too, because libraries are such an American institution that you'd think the power of tradition would be fairly strong here. Perhaps the constant fight for funding and relevance has propelled their evolution.
- nvarsj 10y agoLibraries in London are very much like libraries in the U.S. My local library (in London) has many internet computers, which are always full as the OP described. Library has wifi too but the quality is not so great. It's sort of ironic, because it's the library in Tim Berners Lee's hometown, and even has a big WWW plaque outside it. You'd expect it to have the best internet ever :).
- baby 10y agoI haven't been here long enough to really judge (I've only checked the libraries in Clapham Junction and Clapham Common), but I can see a contradiction here: > Libraries in London are very much like libraries in the U.S. > Library has wifi too but the quality is not so great When I was living in Canada, libraries would be open 24/7 during exams. That was just... incredible. In France you're lucky if you have restrooms in the library.
- krallja 10y ago> it's the library in Tim Berners Lee's hometown, and even has a big WWW plaque outside it It's on shared copper, just like most of us were when www was invented, for historical accuracy.
- clumsysmurf 10y agoSadly though, Trumps budget would completely eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services. This would be devastating for library services cross the country. http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2017/03/president-s-budget-proposal-eliminate-federal-library-funding http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2017/03/president-s-b...
- nojvek 10y agoYep. Why do we need libraries? We should instead fund the military with billions of dollars because that's how we make this country great.
- najati83 10y agoWell... that's actually true. The US are where they are because of their military power and intelligence.
- narutouzumaki 10y agoThe US is, at the least to an equal extent, also where it is because of its excellent possibilities to have access to a free flow of information and stable not profit motivated institutions that allow that access. This includes libraries.
- sametmax 10y agoYou don't build tanks and planes without them. Nuclear bombs without them. Look at south korea. Plenty of military, no brain.
- MRFREDOD 10y agoCHEATING ADULTERY INFIDELITY OF SPOUSE GET PROOFS? HIRE A PROFESSIONAL PI fortressinvestigation@outlook.com OR eliteprohackers@gmail.com
- MRFREDOD 10y agoCHEATING ADULTERY INFIDELITY OF SPOUSE GET PROOFS? HIRE A PROFESSIONAL PI fortressinvestigation@outlook.com OR eliteprohackers@gmail.com
- rb808 10y agoIronically we go to the library much less now that its easy to borrow ebooks with kindle and reading apps. overdrive is great. I was starting to see a future without libraries.
- mattnewton 10y agoPeople with large book collections never _needed_ the library, it was always the people who had no budget from books that benefited the most. I think that will continue to be the case, maybe more so if they take on the mantle of internet access.
- SomeStupidPoint 10y agoThe libraries here seem to have transitioned heavily to services and tech. The computers have not only internet, but MS Office and Adobe products, and I see everything from playing games and social media to job hunting and learning being done on them. (There's even a special bank of computers with resources for job hunting downtown.) Pretty much every day, the library holds some kind of starting a business, learning to use tech, ESL, or other kind of class. Then there's the cultural shows (opera, movies, story readings) and free tax prep services at the central branch downtown. The library also provides desks to work at, which are used by students (HS and college), professionals, the homeless, etc. The value of a workspace in the city is itself fairly large. I made frequent use of it when working as a freelancer. Cheaper than coworking space, cafe on site, reliable internet, etc. And of course, the library is still a library. Their ebook collection is nowhere near the size and scope of their physical book collection. Not just the normal stuff of modern books, but fairly large archives of things like financial reports, magazine editions, etc stretching back nearly 100 years (longer in a few cases), a rare book collection, specialty archives, a collection of official government documents, and probably more Im forgetting. That isn't stuff I need every day, most of my borrowing is (or could be) ebook/audiobook, but I think the city would be poorer without a publicly owned archive of history, even if there were digital copies available. There's something about reading a book older than your great grandparents that digital copies don't replace.
- ocdtrekkie 10y ago
- petra 10y agoOnce we had a dream of sharing wifi among each other. What happened to that?
- yjftsjthsd-h 10y agoAdministrative overhead and piracy issues?
- locopati 10y agoI think petra was referring to the 'i've got mine - screw you' attitude that guides the party in power in the USA.
- thinkmilitant 10y agoSome still have that dream and are working towards making it a reality. https://openwireless.org/ https://openwireless.org/ I myself am in the planning phase of hosting an open wifi network at my place of residence to do my small part.
- loeg 10y agoDoesn't work outside of cities; requires tons of volunteer effort and resources.
- lebanon_tn 10y agoI live in a suburb of Los Angeles and I occasionally do work at a local library branch. I overhear a lot of the patrons' conversations at the reference desk. It's astounding how much people still struggle to find quality information in "the information age". It's no surprise given the rise of poorly vetted articles spread on social media. I realize how much of a role librarians can play in guiding people towards more reliable information sources. The key takeaway from the article shared is that libraries are still effective places for people to build self-reliance with regard to information seeking. It's an important skill that doesn't always get taught in schools for whatever reason.
- anon263626 10y agoEducation isn't educated. Most people don't know who is Chris Hedges or Cornel West. Hollywood gossip, "social" apps and working 1-3 jobs too often displaces vital civic participation, resistance to corrupt authorities and self-enlightenment.
- FullMtlAlcoholc 10y agoI believe that the ability to filter out low quality is a symptom of the declining role that libraries play in our educational system. I was privileged enough to go to schools that had libraries and trained librarians attached. Part of our curriculum included a library class in which the librarians taught us to investigate the credibility of a piece by actually reading the sources cited. Modern resources such as Wikipedia are a treasure, but are only valuable if examined with a critical eye. Support your local libraries, especially their outreach programs.
- late2part 10y agoI respect your opinion and the belief that library education continues. I think a far greater cause is the lack of critical thinking taught in schools, the lack of engaged debate and encouraging people to think for themselves and gather their own information. We had to write persuastive papers, research topics from encyclopedias, etc. It seems kids don't do that in school these days. (get off my lawn)
- MR4D 10y agoGiven that it was created in 1996, I think we'll survive. ( https://www.imls.gov/about-us https://www.imls.gov/about-us ) There was this rich industrialist who did more for libraries than this agency ever did. His name was Carnegie - maybe you can search for him in 10 seconds on Google and buy a book about it on Amazon if you wish. Or take a couple hours and go to your library if you prefer.
- tekklloneer 10y agoThe fact that you're able to spend time leisurely on sites like HN implicitly groups you into a higher income bracket. If you couldn't afford a personal computer, your comment might be a little less snarky when the library was your primary resource.
- MR4D 10y agoOr maybe I just don't think the government trying to support 158,00 libraries and museums at an average of $1,000 is worth it. If kids need broadband, then raise the local taxes to pay for it. Or solicit local donations. Frankly, I don't think it would take much to raise $1,000 for a library. For example, if the local population is too stupid to fund it because they just raised $60 million for a new high school football stadium, then that's their problem, and I don't think I (or you) should have to pay for their ignorance. (I'm referencing a town in Texas that built a massive high school football stadium because they think it's more important that their education investment.) TL;DR - just because something exists, doesn't mean it should. There are more efficient ways of doing things.
- lghh 10y agoIf an area is in the income bracket where the majority of the population would need a library to access the internet, raising taxes in the area is only going to burden that community even more.
- MR4D 10y agoThis (https://www.imls.gov/grants/awarded/ls-00-10-0044-10 https://www.imls.gov/grants/awarded/ls-00-10-0044-10 ) could be replaced by each Houstonian paying a whopping 15 cents. Yes, there are poor areas. The problem is they lack powerful congressional seats, and the rich ones get the money.
- anon263626 10y agoDon't worry, Betsy de Vos will defund libraries and make them charge airplane WiFi prices.
- loeg 10y agoCertainly rings true here. Anecdote: My cousin lives in a rural area and is enrolled in college while working. His only internet at home is satellite, so to do his online homework he has to drive to the library to use the wifi.
- itchyjunk 10y agoI volunteered at my local library and they were struggling at times in terms of man power. I think they had too much responsibility but the budget of someone who handles books only. Books, Internet, Movies and music, Free lunch for kids under 18, Some computer classes occasionally, Meeting areas for adults, Club activities for kids, Occasionally local cops organized "Pokemon Go with an Officer", magazines, subscription to many newspapers, etc etc. Most people don't think of volunteering in libraries either. They were back logged with shelving out the books that hadn't been checked out in a while. Without doing this, they can't really keep getting new books. Trying to manage the CD/DVD is also more hassle than you think. You have to regularly clean it and get rid of the ones thats too damaged. My college library is decent too. Nothing like the public one. Especially considering the college one probably is better funded. A lot of people from a lot of different age group depend on the library for the internet though.
- nimos 10y agoI'd love for libraries to get involved more in tech. I think they are really the ideal public sponsored unit to move quickly and break things in a way that school's aren't. I have a nephew who is 2.5 with 2 uncles involved in tech and his dad writes some code part time. We've already talked about getting him into programming and electronics. As technical skills become more and more important I worry that the school system just isn't fast enough to adapt and there is going to be a massive inequality between kids who have relative/parents who encourage the development of these skills and those who don't.
- bluedino 10y agoMy local library has 250mbs of fiber going to it. Nothing amazing in the days of gigabit but it's by far the best free internet access you can get. However, they have it locked down to just web traffic. You can't use GitHub, download any software, SSH into a server...